A VP I used to work with had tons of funny sayings. One of them was "That guy is a truck driver" What she meant was that guy has the right IQ to drive trucks all day and not get bored. If he was smarter he'd get bored and end up crashing or doing poorly at his job. It was pretty funny as she'd drop these metaphors during meetings and conference calls.

I almost think that police work should be compulsory service for qualified individuals. At least maybe as a partner for a more highly trained lead officer. It seems that all career police officers get jaded or corrupt in the long run. The only way to keep them working for us as OUR employees is to have one of us sitting next to them at all times who isn't part of the blue brotherhood or bound by the code of silence among corrupt officers. Officers it seems identify more with the criminals they see every day than the generally law abiding citizens that most of us are. As a result we all get treated like criminal scum even when our only crime was to take our eyes off the speedo and watch the road for too long an interval.

Only those who have completely and utterly failed at life, at being a productive member of society who provides for his own with honest work, become police officers. Anyone with a conscience can't stomach it. The constant trampling of people's rights, violent unprovoked abuse, rape, murder, all the evil things police regularly do and get away with. Intelligent people would not be able to live with themselves after not reporting it and bringing the criminal members of the police force to justice.

They don't want smart cops, as the smart ones would respect natural rights, liberty, the Bill of Rights, etc. and turn in the bad ones that abuse, rape, murder and steal from innocents. It could turn the whole thing upside down, and they can't have that. They're too comfortable feeding off of and exploiting the productive class so the primary interest is in maintaining the status quo corrupt police and courts. So yes, this makes perfect sense.

"Those that can't do teach or become cops"
What an asinine statement! I know a guy that was teaching at one of the best engineering schools in the country, just another job that Riley Banger will ever have a chance at or will ever be able to do! Also you must live in a pretty crappy neighborhood where you have to rely on a glock for protection, sorry to hear about this. I know there are cops that spend their time on the clock drinking at bars or firefighters that go on paid vacations for a year, but teachers do not have any place to hide, do not take very many sick days a year AND are labeled by their students as great or terrible teachers within the first week of school, I know which one they would label you as!

^So what, police officers are all democrats? Delta says he agrees with me and we couldn't be more politically opposite. I have a few friends that are police officers and even if I didn't, I think it is moronic to say only those that have "completely and utterly failed at life" become police officers. I probably should have let it go given that Cory says something batsheet crazy about once a month, but who the hell is he to say who is and is not a "productive member of society"? I admit there are some corrupt cops out there, but what profession doesn't have corruption by some members? There are corrupt doctors, lawyers, evangelists, construction workers, etc.

Come on guys. I would not be a cop. I am not built for it. I know many cops and they worked damn hard to get their jobs and love what they do. I could not risk my life every day for the sake of good, just not my mold.

I have several friends that are cops. They are intelligent, hardworking people, just like most of my friends. Remember that you only here the stories about the bad ones, and rarely hear stories about the ones that do good.

Ok, so i cant say i enjoy cops ( i do love the TV show ), but seriously some of you must have had some seriously whack encounters to be spewing such ridiculous and judgmental sentiments.

Ya there are definitely a TON of power hungry dbag cops out there but in the end they choose to risk their lives in order to serve society...although it may not always look that way in the end thats a pretty gutsy decision that I can definitely respect.

I dont really think its the man thats the problem, its the system in which he is required to work. Like many occupations that are on the cost side of the house, most employers arent looking for the best performance, they are looking for lowest tollerance. The system is run such that anyone in it long enough becomes jaded and compromised. In America many of our most important jobs are filled by the lowest common denominator because of how they are compensated. They are not paid well for the character required and the risk they take. They are just a cost to the municipality. On top of that the municipality tries to offset the already low cost of underpaid staff by turning them into revenue generators. Writing speeding tickets has to be demoralizing for the man who wants to make a difference, knowing good and well that speeding isnt a safety issue in most cases. He is a self generating loop of no value, like a guy who works at Mcaffee who writes viruses on the side, or a guy who digs a hole in the road and parks his tow truck next to it, offering tows to anyone who hits it. When your job is to stop bad people from hassling good people, but you cover the cost by hassling the same good people, it cant feel good.

"He is a self generating loop of no value, like a guy who works at Mcaffee who writes viruses on the side, or a guy who digs a hole in the road and parks his tow truck next to it, offering tows to anyone who hits it."

This is one of the most illogical statements I have read this year. Why even waste my time?

^What does that have to do with anything? I have never heard that "being your friend" or "looking out for your best interest" being in the job description for a police officer. Other than being a clown or a worker at Chuck E Cheese's, who has something about being a friend of all strangers as part of their job requirements?

"Only those who have completely and utterly failed at life, at being a productive member of society who provides for his own with honest work, become police officers"

That is the statement and the attitude that is under consideration for this argument and by very definition is the most idiotic and paranoid statement I have read in some time. Regardless of how people feel about the laws and how different police departments uphold the law, this is a demeaning and ignorant statement. May as well throw Al Sharpton on the TV and tell everyone how white people where only created to keep other races down. It we just did not have white people, the world would be so much peaceful.

You guys wonder why cops don't "care about your best interest"?

It is that same attitude of the people that gets a cop shot in the face for just contacting a thug.

A cop taken hostage in a steak house in a rich white suburb where everyone is friendly and then use that officers gun to kill another cop for simply being a cop.

It is the same attitude that they get when they catch a teenage car thief who fights back and breaks them thumb of an officer and end their career at a early age. 4 years of college out the window and retirement as well.

It is the media always on their back because these other people are out there doing this stuff to the public.

It is being told by the mayor or city council on how to enforce certain laws.

It is idiot liberal voters voting in laws and then wondering why cops can't do anything about such and such issue.

I can imagine most cops don't really give a damn about you because they know deep down that you are either looking to kill them, hurt them, trying to get them fired or just simply bitch about them.

Everyone has their idea of what a law is supposed to be but really have no idea what the law is. Not saying I agree with everything that happens with law enforcement. I have had my run ins that piss me off, but I also understand enough of the other side to realize that making idiot statements is just that. Idiotic.

So your best friend is a Cop and you feel that way about him and his friends at work? With a friend like you, I would not give a **** either. YOU ARE BEST FRIENDS WITH A COP and you have this much hatred and vitriol toward them. You are supposed to be one of the ones who is there for one of them. You are supposed to be on the positive side of their life. If you are the positive, can you imagine what the negative part of their life is like?

Have you thought that maybe he also realized the becoming a lawyer means becoming a blood sucker? Does your buddy have a low IQ as well?

Everyone I know who is good friends with a police officer may like that officer when they off work but also is blown away by all of the stories that their police officer friend tells them. Their police officer friend citing long lists of instances where they have violated a person's rights or purposely used excessive force. Just because you like to hang with a guy after work doesn't mean you have to like the disgusting way that they take care of business when on the job.

To be clear I never said I hate cops. If that's what you got from my statement then you are mistaken. I said those that can't do teach or become cops. It's kind of a last resort when they find out that the rest of the world just doesn't have a place for them. I love my friend and I am the godfather to his children, god forbid something happens to him I will look after his kids as if they were my own. He knows how I feel about cops, are there good ones yes, but overwhelmingly the standard cop is nothing more than a revenue officer on a power trip that ended up there because he was either A bullied or B found out that the real world was really hard.
And teachers, yes I have friends that are teachers, I would never let my kids learn anything from them, they have such a jaded view on the the world and how things really are. Home school for my kids with lots of social activities like wakeboarding, moto, karate etc. I know the problem is less about the teacher and more about the system that they have to operate in, and I had some great teachers growing up, but the dumbing down of America is starting in our schools

I hear more stories about how cops do things like put a drunk in a taxi and then the drunk beats up the taxi driver and now the cop is being sued type of stories.

Or how a naked man is sleeping on a park bench is approached by a cop and the guy gets up and attacks the cop so the cop ends up having to shoot the guy because they were fighting for his gun and then the press tries to turn it into a race crime even though both of them were black.

Or someone complaining how a cop did not show up in short order to process a small crime all while the other end of that is the cop has a guy at gunpoint for a bigger crime elsewhere.

Or how a friend lost their career because a teen decided to attack the cop while under arrest and broke the thumb and damaged ligaments.

Or how another broke their heal chasing a guy and lost their career.

Or a cop pulls someone over and they pull out a gun and kill him and his partner and two other swat people.

Try living with people that are cops that have those stories. I could choose to tell the story more like "those who don't have balls, don't become cops". They choose to live life in the safety of their suburban safety net being over paid for the work they do while sitting at home doing nothing while a neighbor lady is beat by their husband, kid is bullied or the local punk steals the stereo out of your boat. We can play the broad definition game all day.

Let me ask you, when you teach your children how do things, does that mean you don't know how to do them? You are teaching them after all? I agree the education system has become corrupt tool of the left and is not longer about a high calling especially the university system but I am not going to use that brush on all the individuals for the policies of the administrators.

Also when you speak of the real world. Go over to Oakland, CA and see the animals over their trying to kill each other and have to be the referee (cops) in all that mess. You are either going to be assulted at some point, shot at, lied about, lied too (every time you speak to someone), have a news crew trying to "get a story"". I am pretty sure that everyone you talk to at your work is not lying to you, get you fired, kill you or any of the above at any given time and you not knowing when it is going to happen.

Does everyone look at you and make snide remarks every time you eat lunch? do you have to be constantly looking around if you are just sitting in a parking lot monitoring for crime to make sure no one is targeting you?

I think most of us do not live in the real world. That is the real world for cops. Do you have a pair to life your next 30 years like that?

How is it acceptable for cops to be on guard because of their experience with the public, but not acceptable for the public to be on guard because of their experience with cops? With good reason, too. More people are unnecessarily roughed up/hurt by cops than vice versa.

The things said about cops in this thread is pleasant compared to what they say about Joe public.

When you compare a cop to "some guy that works for McAfee that writes viruses on the side" or a "guy that digs a hole for cars to drive into so he can tow them out" you shouldn't be butthurt when someone calls you on it, regardless of what that person said in the past. It was a stupid statement, plain and simple.

Difference is the cops absolutely have to deal with public where the public can easily do things to avoid the cops and statistically may never even deal with one in their lifetime. Depends which city you are in as well. Some times it is just spoiled suburb dwellers pissed of about nothing but a bad cup of coffee or you can work in Oakland area and know that most of the population would love to kill you if they could get away with it.

You may not have to respect everyone who does the job but you should at least respect the position. You have no one to blame but yourself considering they are enforcing the laws you let get passed in your name.

You may not have to respect everyone who does the job but you should at least respect the position. You have no one to blame but yourself considering they are enforcing the laws you let get passed in your name.

I don't respect hypocrites and liars in any position. They swore to uphold and defend the ultimate law of the land and they consistently abuse it under the color of authority. Their position has turned from a respectful "Protect and serve" to "Enforce and collect". They're the equivalent of the Biblical tax collector and the public is largely dissatisfied.

They've even become cowards and run around in militarized packs. What used to be a position fit for a hero- a position that would risk their life to protect an innocent has turned to everything "Officer Safety"... Their life has become more valuable than those they've sworn to protect(and I don't mean the politicians) .. not every citizen is out to get them despite what they think. Not every citizen has something to hide, not every citizen does drugs, or carries an illegal weapon. Youtube is riddled with Law Enforcement blunders and douchebaggery.

"Don't judge all cops because of a few bad ones"
Fair enough, as long as they stop treating all citizens like bad guys.

Please don't come at me with " Bro, they have a tough job... it's stressful"
I bet making pizza is tough and stressful during lunch hour. Lots of jobs are and they have the option of quitting like everyone else. "Oh, but it's dangerous work and they risk their life every day.."
For the most part that's complete garbage. Law Enforcement is largely uneventful work in most U.S cities. Sure there are exceptions....
You want to see tough, dangerous and stressful work? Go clear some forest with heavy machinery. Driving around in an Air conditioned vehicle writing meaningless "no front plate" 50.00 citiations is not protecting, it is not serving and it is not dangerous.

Here's the kicker: With the exception of one(1), all of my closest friends are in law enforcement in one capacity or another(or were) and quite a few of them agree with me.

Why would you go to work to "be a hero" and die for you. Bull crap. I do not expect someone to go out and die for me today as a matter of just doing my job. You are dang right if someone is getting out of had, I would expect 30 cops there to beat their @ss. One on one means one guy gets their day in court while the officer is looking for a new job because they are injured. You are dang right there is officer safety. So what. There is OSHA in your work place. Maybe I should complain that an order of something is not being done fast enough because you are following regulations?

You act like all cops are out terrorizing everyone. Your $50 no license plate is YOUR FAULT not theres. You know the law and you let people vote for that stupid law in your name. Go run for office and fix it.

And not no every citizen has drugs or something to hide except you can not make procedures to keep someone safe when all it takes is one person to make you never see your family again. How about instead of you bitching about how they act, how about understanding that they have to deal with that end of it and show a little respect instead of acting like they owe you something.

You bs claim of quitting your job like everyone else is crap. That is like saying a girl deserves to get raped because she wore a skirt out to a party. There are jobs that need to be done and people have the right to have a honest career. Just like you say they have the right to quit, you have the right to try and do that job and make it better.

I bet when you talk to your law enforcement buddies, there is a different tone than the one that comes across the computer screen when you say they agree with you. You make it sound like your buddies are crooks looking to screw you over.

Delta,
You keep bringing up Oakland. I grew up a few miles from Oakland and spent a great deal of my late teen years playing billiard halls bouncing between Oakland, Berkley and Emeryville. You make it sound like Bosnia in the 80's. Part of Oakland is bad, some parts are beautiful, I am familiar with both so using extremes isn't going to work on me.

I don't believe I am acting like the owe me anything, so I'm not certain where that came from. As a matter of fact, if they DID owe me something I would prefer that they kept it. I want nothing from them and go out of my way to avoid any contact. What you're suggesting is that because they have a tough job I should respect them despite their abuse under the color of authority. No.. That's not the way it works.

Quote:

You bs claim of quitting your job like everyone else is crap. That is like saying a girl deserves to get raped because she wore a skirt out to a party. There are jobs that need to be done and people have the right to have a honest career.

The girl/rape analogy....Meh. No, it's not like saying that. I agree there are jobs that need to be done, but those jobs shouldn't be abused. As far as I'm concerned a person intrusted to a position of authority and abuses those he's been intrusted to protect is pure garbage... Worse than the criminal they seek.

I promise you I have the same tone with them.

Wait.... I've been trying to figure out why you're taking this so personally. Wasn't your father in Police work?

Was not aware CHP has revenue officers. I have heard of non sworn revenue guards for BART. Is he actually a sworn officer? Revenue in the context I am used to don't do patrols.

He is a sworn officer, and as a sworn officer he must find people breaking the speed limits so that he can generate revenue for the state... ie Revenue Officer.

He wanted to be a district attorney so he could put bad people behind bars, that was really hard so then he wanted to be a sheriff so he could see some action and help people in need that was hard, so then he resorted to the CHP because that was easier. Now all he does is drive around and clean up accidents and write speeding tickets, Not much of an IQ needed for that.

That's all I was trying to say with my post, I don't think cops are generally horrible people there are good and bad in any part of life I just agreed that not much of an IQ is needed to be a cop of any kind.

Not my father. My wife is and we have many friends and a few that lost their careers to little punks. My wife is a Community Service Officer and is a Crime Scene Technician.

I hear all the crap people say to just her and she does not arrest anyone. Yesterday she was informed that she needed to find a parking spot for this lady. That is one of the more fun ones though. There are others where a teen attacked a female officer that was with her and she had to get the kid off of the officer. I use Oakland because for a police officer it is extremely dangerous. They don't get to choose to go hang out in the nice part of Oakland. They also have to be there after the commuters go home and the white kids go back to their town. I know of at least 5 different cops killed over there off the top of my head and a few other officer involved shootings and I don't pay attention to much. I am sure there is more. Heck even Grant or someone posted a video of the animals reaction when a cop wrecked his bike over there and everyone was disgusted.

Using extremes may not work with you because you don't have to live in the extreme. Just like most other people, if things get tough you head back to the suburb. I would almost say that bosnia in 80's is better from the aspect at least you know where it is going to come and who was going to do it and everyone was in the same boat. A cop one minute can be trying to be nice and someone shoots them in the face. Most stops can be no big deal but they don't know which one is going to be the one. It takes a different mentality to deal with that. Heck almost every person that approaches my wife is either bitching about something or if they are getting a ticket they are lying their a$$ off. Heck, I know most people reading this have got a speeding ticket or been pulled over for speeding. First thing you are asked. How fast were you going? I bet a dollar that everyone says they were doing a different speed that what the officer clocked them at. I know I have. You don't remember it as a lie but that is every single person they deal with. Day after day after day. Now do it with people who don't mind jacking up others day after day after day. Most people could not deal with it. Now look at the attitude of the people on this thread who are supposedly more of your well to do in society. They think of cops as second class citizens. It is pretty obvious. So now you got it on both sides. Then throw in all the self appointed "watch dog" groups and news agencies and city government officials. You wonder why they develop a siege mentality and only relate to other cops? They pretty much have to be a walking lawyer and be able to defend every single little word they say or do all day every day in a court of law not to mention the massive reports they have to write for every ticket or arrest. It is not an easy place to be.

I don't like all the stupid little laws and the feeling of how cops are used by the towns to collect money sometimes either but that is my gripe with government. I understand what you are saying Barry. I have had my run in with cops over the years like one lying for a girl who just got her license. She turned left from on coming traffic and hit me in my drivers side back left quarter panel and found a way to blame me so the girl with the new license did not get a ding on her record. I am still pissed about getting lied about and that was almost 10 years ago. I even had one in Stockton about a tinted window where I was about to lose my drivers license because I tried to find out where the ticket went and tried to track it down and could not find a record of it then I get a letter saying they were cancelling my drivers license for it. Cost me a day of vacation to deal with it and a lot of stress. I took care of my part. It was my fault that I had tinted windows but going after my license for their government mistake is not forgivable. Turns out it was a Stockton thing and I was only passing through to get to the Fed Ex to pick up a package. I just chose to not buy anything in Stockton again and I haven't.

Even with that, I will not support any stupid broad statements that cops are basically idiot scum of the earth people as has been eluded to and basically directly said in this overall post (not just you). As for people with cop friends, I would at least be more supportive of them on the personal level. Maybe not all of them have a rough job like a big city and a few of them may be asses but there all many of them who suffer from post traumatic stress that you don't realize and one of those guys may actually be one of your buddies that you like to criticize.

I see what you are saying Riley but I disagree. You have recreate accident scenes. Have to write bullet proof reports. Nothing like having to be a CHP and usually be the first one on a scene and get to see burned baby and parents all over the road or see a pumpkin headed motorcyclist with brains all over the highway. Then figure out how to come home and not put that on your family. The POST academy to become an officer is no joke from what I hear and nothing like saying I am going to go do the academy for a year with training and find out you did not approach a car correctly in your field training and now your year of training is washed out and you have zero to fall back on. It is not easy. You have to manage a very difficult set of circumstances to even make it and to me that takes some IQ of some sort. Most people who cook your food are looked at as being not very smart then you look at most of your so called brainy people with 3 BBQ cook books and 20 bookmarked BBQ tabs on their computer to figure out how to make some killer ribs or brisket. To them, it is second nature.

All I am saying is don't look down your nose at someone because you think their job is a no brainer. Every job has details that has to be managed and they are not going to let complete idiots run around arresting people.

Not to keep typing. My wife is doing a crime scene from a murder a few weeks ago. They have the tape up and police all around and this lady (and this is not the only time this happens) goes under the tape and starts to walk through the murder scene. My wife looks up and tells here she needs to get out before she got in far. The lady then sits on the out side of the scene yelling at my wife and others that if she walks around she will have to walk in some dirty and get her Timberlands dirty and she set their for a few minutes just bitching about that while they are processing a murder scene.

Other time officers with dealing with a scene and I think their was a guy down at gunpoint and some lady drives up in her mercedez to my wife, who is trying to keep people back in the street, bitching at her about the traffic or parking while the officers are right over there with this going on.

I would venture to say that the citizen undeservedly gets the bad end of the stick faaaar more than Law Enforcement during police encounters. They make things up to cover themselves and then complain that citizens do the same. Hypocrisy!
Lying and violating rights has become an acceptable practice as long as the end justifies the means and "the bad guy" goes to jail. My question is this: Which is 'the bad guy'..The cop for breaking ethical code and violating rights? Or the 'criminal', who usually goes to jail for........... (Drum roll, please) Breaking ethical code and violating rights.

For the record, I would never be disrespectful during an encounter, there's no reason to... it will only escalate things and I prefer to not be bothered at all. The faster I'm on my way, the better.
I'm sharing my thoughts on Wakeworld.. that is all.

Depends on where you live. I knew cops back in Indiana that have to work side jobs doing security to make ends meet. In california they make a pretty good wage but not that out of the norm considering the area in which they live and what people make comparing others with similar education. I know that sometimes they make a lot in overtime where I live. Things like if you have an arrest at the end of your ****, you have to go finish reports so you don't screw up details and things like that. Sometimes they get caught up in being forced to stay over to cover. Then you have issues that one may work in safer town than the town over the hill but maybe only 10 minutes away and I think they make a similar wage.

Now if you take into consideration that a small injury can force you into retirement at age 30 where your retirement would not be enough to even make ends meet then I would say you have a greater risk vs pay. If we both make $50,000 a year but if I sprain my wrist on the job, I get it fixed and may have a work restriction and maybe so for the rest of my career if I can not gain strength. If a cop gets hurt and can not gain strength, they are retired. See ya. Basically that happened to a friend of ours. 14 year old kid strong arm robbed someone. There of them caught him. Two of them from a different PD left to take another call our friend was escorting the kid in cuffs and the kid decided to do what he could to get away so he tried to break away and attack her and it broke her thumb and ripped her ligaments up her wrist. Of course she is now compromised but gets him under control. She has had multiple surgeries and is about to be retired. Education and POST academy out the window. Now in her 40's trying to find another career. Hard to say what is fair compensation in situations like that. If there was a video everyone on this website would be bitching about why it took 3 cops for a 14 year old.

people who complain about cops are usually the people that feel laws do not apply to them. Got pulled over for speeding? stupid cop. got pulled over for running a red light? stupid cop. your car was broken into and it took to long to get to you? stupid cop. people break the laws knowingly all the time then get upset when they get caught. got pulled over for standing on the transom when the boat was in motion? stupid cop. Know the laws and follow them. If you get caught breaking them and get cited, shut up and take it like a man. I have a couple buddies who are cops and have done multiple ride alongs with them. it's amazing the attitude they get from everyone, especially when they were in the wrong. the dude doing 40 in a 25, amazing the attitude. say sorry, take your ticket, and move on.

Then to make things more complicated, there are cameras everywhere. not saying that is a bad thing, but amazing everything a cop does is under scrutiny. He draws his weapon on someone who is resisting or posing a threat, "why'd they pull their weapon?" well, if the suspect would have stopped when they told him to. Cops, military, fireman, it takes bravery and guts to run into the face of danger when everyone else is running away. Get off your high horses and give these guys the respect they deserve

people who complain about cops are usually the people that feel laws do not apply to them.

I suppose it's a matter of perspective. My complaint isn't that law doesn't/shouldn't apply to me, it's that the same laws SHOULD apply to law enforcement who demonstrate by their actions and blatant disregard that they are ABOVE the same law(s) they enforce.

Again, the letter of the law for us, but the spirit of the law for them.

How many cops do you see that drive while on cell phones? How many cops do I personally know that drink and drive, get pulled over and get let go because they are cops? 6... How many cops do I personally know? 6...

How many people who post on wakeworld don't know the law? At least one named Riley. It is not against the law for a law enforcement officer to talk on a cell phone. Look up the law.

Keep up your little crap all you want but you only come off looking like a jack wagon. If I were your friends, I would disown you. Feeling that comfortable throwing them under the bus to a bunch of strangers on the internet to match your pride only so you can agree and be associated with comments like this in this thread:

"Only those who have completely and utterly failed at life, at being a productive member of society who provides for his own with honest work, become police officers. Anyone with a conscience can't stomach it. The constant trampling of people's rights, violent unprovoked abuse, rape, murder, all the evil things police regularly do and get away with. Intelligent people would not be able to live with themselves after not reporting it and bringing the criminal members of the police force to justice."

Friends like you......

Barry, I am sure that others get off of tickets as well not just law enforcement officers. There are thousands of stories about how so and so got lucky today that either the cop gave them a warning or did not pull them over. You act like only cops get away with stuff. Nothing like one sided feelings.

Officer Tim Huffman
Arizona Department of Public Safety, AZ
EOW: Monday, May 6, 2013
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Government

Special Agent Christopher Lorek
United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, US
EOW: Friday, May 17, 2013
Cause of Death: Training accident
United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Government

As a middle class, law abiding white guy it pains me to say I have very little time for cops. They seem to have adopted a kind of bullying,gang mentality. If you're not one of us then you're a criminal seems to be the prevalent attitude. And as so many have pointed out - there are bad guys in every profession. Yes there are, but how many have the kind of power that cops have? With the ability and backing of their "brotherhood" to fit you up if they need to. I know so many decent, law abiding people in both the US and UK that have zero time for the cops. All with good reason.

Why stop with those lists? Can't you fill the page with names of dead officers from 2 years ago as well? Why not go back 3 years? How many deaths does it take to make up for the misdeeds of corrupt police? Need a hint? There is NO number of police officer deaths that make up for police corruption. A million cops ... a billion cops. Doesn't make up for the all too common abuse of power EVER! Many of these officers probably created the climate they died in by harassing young people in their beat who eventually grew up with so much hatred for their harassers that they had no problem killing them. Nobody gets my respect just because they wear a badge. You earn my respect or you get none.

Because you are married to one and know the real world they have to deal with. IMO they are underpaid for what they do, and that brings on the problem. Similar to a teacher, they are underpaid, so there is a divide in the workforce, those who have a real passion for it, and those who take the job because its pays more that whatever else they can get. You got two groups of people making that $50k, the ones who have the work ethic to make $80k somewhere else, but have a passion for law enforcement\teaching, and those who really only qualify for a $25k job, but fill the need.

I havent had a speeding ticket in 6 or 7 years. I interface with cops very little, and all interfaces have gone relatively smoothly. I have run into some darn fine officers, but I've also had some who were rude, antsy, and seemingly deceptive.

I feel its a conflict of interest when police work generates revenue for the city. I guarantee, that if the money received from speeding tickets went to the public school fund, there would be alot less tickets given.

Chris, the discussion is not about having time for cops and the laws that we may not appreciate. I absolutely do not like a cop in my mirror or being contacted by the state for any reason whether by cop or agency. I do not blame you for that reaction.

So you all agree with this statement then which to me is the crux of this discussion:

Only those who have completely and utterly failed at life, at being a productive member of society who provides for his own with honest work, become police officers. Anyone with a conscience can't stomach it. The constant trampling of people's rights, violent unprovoked abuse, rape, murder, all the evil things police regularly do and get away with. Intelligent people would not be able to live with themselves after not reporting it and bringing the criminal members of the police force to justice."

This is the crux of the argument. It is not about if we had bad run ins with the law. I have had my run ins with the law too and to tell you the truth I don't really trust a jury of my peers or the state for that matter either. But am talking about all your seeming agreement with above comment. For that I feel sorry for you. There is no hope for rational people anymore.

And Riley, I hope your good cop friends walks up and punches you square in the face. Your condemnation of his person and his intellect is mind blowing but yet you dare call him a friend. I'll go a little further. Let's not cross paths because you obviously have the same attitude for my wife of who you have never met and that is a shame. Must be nice on your high horse or riding around on your troll. Tell you one thing, I bet they are smarter than those crooks in the mortgage industry.

Eric, the first part of the list where all the cops killed at the World Trade Center. Many times where people such as yourself see corruption is really your ignorance of the law (which my wife sees daily) and usually caused by your hostility of the situation. What you see as corruption such as 3 or 4 cops piling on a punk is a reaction to mentioned stories that one little injury can cause a whole carrier going up in smoke for a punk. No thanks. Many perceived bad meetings with a cop are prompted by stupid comments from the public and in some cased just simply could by the cop's built up bias against the public for reactions such as these on this post. If you think little rich suburbanites think like you guys do, now just think how do real punks act? Thus the list of how many cops killed a year, the attitude of people such as these in this post and ways for them to have their career thrown away for nothing or even their life. For what so the "public" can treat them like you do and for even some people who even dare call these guys friends? F that.

Jason,

I don't like the revenue generation side either but at the same time the revenue side goes completely away if people were obeying the law right? So who is to blame? Also, I am not sure, but I think the tickets go to the general fund which can be used for whatever. Not positive about that. I am sure you will run across all sorts of officers. They are just like everyone else. Some good and some bad. Some of it is conditioned responses to idiots, murders, do gooders, no it alls, liars, haters and you name it. Deal with people (like on this post) a dozen times a day and see how you are at work. Most of the idiots posting on their hate for cops also did not like their parents when they were teens either. Why? rules. Once they got on their own, they understand and agree with their parents. Only problem is you can not get out from under the states rules and everyone reverts to children when faced with authority. Ironically, the ones who usually protest the most are liberals that typically want more state control. The irony.

About 150 hours of work in a month and the Chief requires his cops to contact 100 citizens. One every hour and a half. How do they ever keep that pace up?
Sounds like this Chief expects more out of his cops than to just drive around.

Terry,
I think you're missing the point. It isn't a matter of having time, or placing unachievable demands on officers. Consider that if the admin has to increase contact demands then either the officers aren't doing their job, or there simply isn't a need for the contact. Most likely the latter and if so, why bother people who've done nothing wrong?